Tape for separable fasteners



Dec. 16, 1947.A NfA. WAHL TAPE FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed June 29,1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvENmR. NICHOLAS A. WAHL.

www MMA Dec. 16, 1947. N. A. WAHL TAPE FOR .SEPARABLE FASTENERS 6Sheets-Sheet 2 vFiled -Juna 29, 1946 EES-,Z

fm1/mma. NDCHOLAS A. WAHL Dec. 16, 19471. N. A. wAHl.

TAPE FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed June 29, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 fINHVTOR. NICHOLAS A. WAHL.

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Dec. 16, 1947, N. A. wAHl.

TAPE FOR SEARABLE FASTENERS Filed June 29, 194e s sheets-sheet 4INVHVTOR. .NICHOLAS A. wAHl.

ec. 16, 1947. A.YwAH|. 2,432,841

TAPE FOR SEPARABLE FASTENERS Filed June 2.9, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENNncHoLAs A. w l.

De.16,1947. N;A WAHL 2,432,841

TAPE Fon SEPARABLE FASTENERS 4 vFiled June 29, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6INVENTOR. NICHOLAS A. WAHL Patented 16, 1947.

oFFicE f Nicholas A. Wahl, New York, N. Y., assignor to Wahl Brothers.New York, N. Y., a partnership Application June 29, 1946, Serial No.680,484

9 claims. l

This invention relates to a. stringer tape for a separable fastener andparticularly to ,a tape fashioned in such a way as to provide a track orbead for. guiding' aslider used for separably joini ing and forreleasing the stringers.

A number of types of separable fasteners have.

been devised and used Widely. One type comprises. broadly, alinkstringer consisting of a row of individual links or engagingelements secured at regular intervals along the edge of a piece ofgoods, usually a tape, each link having hooks and eyes or other means toseparably engage the eyes and hooks respectively, of a similar row oflinks secured along the edge of another tape which it is desired toseparably join to the first tape. After the rows of links have beenassembled in the tapes, the latter are sewn, or otherwise secured, tothe goods to'be separably joined. A number of ways have been devised forsecuring the individual links to the tape in accurately spacedalignment, one way consisting in fashioning the root of each individuallink, i. e., the end of the link removed from the end 'provided with ahook and eye, in the form of a split ringso that it may be clamped ontoa cordl longitudinally positioned with respect to the'row of links. Thefabric portion of the tape'is folded once longitudinally around the cordpriorto clamping the individual links onto the cord and the edges of thefabric are left to protrude through the split in the root of the link.Other ways of assembling such engaging elements in a, tape have alsobeen used.

Another type of separable fastener has been devised which comprises,broadly, a coil stringer consisting of a row of lament loops, whichconstitute the engaging elements, secured in spaced relationshiplongitudinally along a tape, andV adapted to nestle within and engage inpositive inter-locking fashion a row of similar, but oppositely wound,filament loops secured longitudinally along another tape. As in theprior instance, the tapes having the rows of filament loops assembledtherein may be sewn or otherwise secured to pieces of fabric or othergoods which it is desired to separably join.

The iilament loops just described are prepared conveniently from a wireor plastic filament in the form of an elongated coil, usually ofapproximately helicoidal form. It has been found that operation of theseparable fastener to secure accurate engagement and better holding ofthe separably Joined stringers may be facilitated by having each loop ofthe coil deformed slightly so that the separate loops are each somewhatnoncircular, e. g., somewhat ovoid or elliptical, in appearance-whenviewed in the directional' the longitudinal axis oi the coil. Otherirregularities in l lthe individualV loops ofthe coil are frequentlyprovided to promote betterv holding and smoother operation.

The usual method for assembling a coil, such as that described, in atape has consisted in providing a tape having a number of the warp orlongitudinal threads near its center omitted,

placing the tape and coll in parallel longitudinal relationship with thecoli over the portion of the tape where there are no warp threads, andthen pushing the coilthrough this portion of the tape. In this manner,each Woof thread or cross t'nread passes between the forward edges oftwo-adjoining convolutlons or loops of the coil .and engages and liesacross the inside of the rearward section of a loop. The marginalsections of the tape. having both Warp and Woof threads, are foldedtogether and then usually sewn or otherwise joined along'a line adjacent4the coil. In this Way, the Woof threads anchor the tape to the coil.

When, however; a pair of stringers, such as the link and coil stringersdescribed, are separably joined with a slider in the usual manner, it isnotl uncommon for the protrudin'gedge of the slider, which serves toguide and draw the engaging elements together into interlockingrelationship, to slip between two of the links or loops when theStringer is bent sharply just ahead of the slider and thus to disengagethe slider from the Stringer. This is especially likely to occur in thecase of separable fasteners having coil stringers. In addition tocausing annoyance it is diiiicult to reassemble the slider and Stringerin proper relationship. Largely because of this tendency separablefasteners, particularly those having coil stringers, have not enjoyedthe wide usage that their advantages over other types of fastenersjustify, ,and it is apparent thatl any method or deviceifor overcomingthe difficulty described would be of great value.

An additional disadvantage of separable fasteners having coil stringersas heretofore made has been the tendency o! the coils to turn somewhatafter being assembled in a tape so that when two of such coils areseparably joined, the portions of the loops of the two coils oiieringbest engagement and maximum holding are not presented to each other.

It is therefore, an object 'of the present invent tion to provide animproved separable fastener not subject to certain disadvantagesinherent in the heretofore known separablefasteners.

An additional object is to provide a separable fastener in which thestringer is not subject to disengagement from the slider while thestringers are being separably joined.

An additional object is to provide an improved tape for a separablefastener which will prevent disengagement of the stringer from theslider under conditions of usage.

An additional object is to provide an improved tape for a separablefastener.

An additional object is to provide a separable fastener wherein theengaging elements are substantially covered and hidden from view whenthe stringers are separably joined.

Still other advantages of the invention'will be apparent as thedescription of the invention proceeds.

These and related objects are accomplished readily and economically byproviding a tape such that when a row of engaging elements,v e. g., arow of individual links or the loops of a continuous coil, are assembledtherein, the tape will provide a continuous track or bead lying snuglyagainst the outside ofthe row ef elements adjacent to the line ofjoining of the tape and the elements, and extending an appreciabledistance around the elements. When a row of engaging elements isassembled in such a tape and'a pair of such stringers` are separablyjoined, the projecting edges of the 4slider engage and slide along thecontinuous track or bead so formed rather than the surfaces of theindividual links or loops of the stringer and there is thus nopossibility for the projecting edge of the slider to pass between theseparate links or loops and for the slider and stringer to becomedisengaged.

Reference is made to the accompanying drawing wherein, for the sake ofclarity, the parts are shown greatly enlarged and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective, partly cut away, of a stringer tapefor aseparable fastener embodying the features of the invention and shown,for the sake of clarity, in a partially folded position.

Figure 2 is the same as Figure l showing a different-l construction ofthe tape.

Figure 3 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the tape of Figure1.

-Figure 4= is an end elevation, partly in section, of a tape of theinvention showing still another arrangement of the parts.

Figure 5 is an end elevation, partly in section, of the tape of Figure1, in a position to receive a coil, also shown, for assembly therein.

Figure 6 is the same as Figure 5 with the coil moved part way intoassembled position.

Figure 7 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a coil Stringerembodying the features of the invention.

l4 in a tape and embodying still other features ci the invention. y

Referring now to Figure 1, there is illustrated a tape having twosections herein referred to as marginal sections, shown generally at IIJand II, composed of warp and woof threads. The two marginal sections,which for better understanding of the invention are shown arranged as inparallel planes, are not co-extensive but the warp threads I4 and I5along one edge of each, referred to herein as the inner edges of themarginal sections, are spaced from one another. Certain of the Woofthreads, I2/ in the marginal section I0 and I6 in the marginal sectionII, extend in a direction transverse to the warp threads only as far asthe edges of the respective marginal sections I0 and II and, afterpassing around the innermost warp threads I4 and I5, respectively,return to the outer edge of the section. Certain other of thewoofthreads I3 are common to both marginal sections of the tape and extendacross both marginal sections I0 and II as well as across the spaceseparating the inner edges of the marginal sections. The marginalsections I0 and II are thus connected along their inner edges by lengthsof Woof threads I3 which are common to both sections. These particularWoof threads are referred to conveniently as primary tie threads.Although it is preferable that the primary tie threads I3 be spaced ingroups, e. g., in pairs, at regular intervals longitudinally along thetape and that the remaining wooi. threads I2 and I8 extend only acrossthe marginal sections IIJ and I I, respectively, as described, thusleaving a series of openings or regions in the tape bounded by the tiethreads I3 and by the inner edges of the marginal sections I0 and II,which are free of both warp and Woof threads, this particularconstruction is by. no means essential to the satisfactory use andfunctioning of the tape. If desired, all Woof threads may be common toboth marginal sections.

In addition to the primary tie threads just described, other tie threadsI1 and I8, herein referred to as secondary tie threads, are providedwhich extend between the two marginal sections I0 and II of the tapefrom points therein removed from the inner edges of the marginalsections. One convenient way of fabricating a tape having a secondarytie thread I1 of the nature described consists in weaving the secondarytie Figure 8 is a plan view of a separable fastener v having coilsassembled in the tape of an invention and showing the coils partly ininterlocking relationship and partly in separated relationship, togetherwith a slider for separably joining and releasing the coils.

Fig. 9 is a view taken along the line IX-IX of FigureS. y

Figure 10 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a slider and a pairof individual interlocking links assembled in tapes providing tracks orbeads for guiding the slider.

Figure 11 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a, tape of theinvention showing yet another method of. construction.

Figure 12 is an end elevation, partly in section, of a. coil stringerconsisting of a coil assembled thread as a Warp thread at the properlocation for a certain distance in' the marginal section II as shown at2l, then carrying it across to the other marginal section I0, weaving itas a warp thread in the marginal section I0 for a correspondingdistance, as shown at 22, and then carrying it back across to the first.marginal section II, and repeating the process. Generally speaking, twosuch secondary tie threads, as I'I and I8, are woven into the marginalsections in such manner that they cross from one marginal section alongthe tape at desired intervals. The relative positions of the variousmembers of Figure 1 are clearly apparent from an inspection of Figure 3.A preferred modiiication of the invention com pri-ses atape as shown thesection having heavy ,5 l in Figures 1 and 2 wherein at least some orall of the secondary tie threads I1, I3, I9 and 2l) of Figure Figure 2and of the warp threads I4 and 23. and I5 and 24o! that portion of eachof the respective marginal sections I and I I lying between the inneredges ofthe marginal sections and the points ofA securing `of thesecondary-tie threadsto the marginalsections are considerably heavierthan the warp threads 25 and 23 of the portions of the marginal sectionlying beyond vor outside the points of securing of the secondary tie tothe marginal sections. lThe reasons for these differences in weight willbecome apparent from the discussion of Figure 7.

In assembling a row of engaging elements consisting of the loops of acontinuous coil in the tape of the invention, the tape is spread out asflatas possible, as in Figure 5, and a coil 33, while held'ylongitudinally parallel with the tape, is presented to the side of thetape where it will first encounter the secondary tie threads I1 and I3.The coil 33 is then pushed through the tape, in a direction referred toas theforwarddirection, indicating by the arrow, betweenthe marginalsections, the secondary tie threads I1 and I8 and, later, the primarytie threads I3, entering between the seprate loops of the coil.

The relative positions of the parts in an intermediate stage in theassembly operation. are shown in Figure 6. Here the secondary tie`threads i1 and I8 have passed between adjacent loops of the coil 33 andhave engaged and 'lie across the inner surface ofone of the loops at Ythe rearward side of the coil, and the primary tie threads i3 haveentered part way between the loops of the coil. The forward movement ofthe coi1 te is continued as far as possible and the marginal portions ofthe tape. are then drawn tightly together over the rearward side of thecoil, as in Figure '1, and sewn longitudinally, as at 34. along a lineclosely adjacent to'the coil.

. 'I'he relationships between the coilV 33, the marginal sections ofthetape, the primary tie threads I3, the secondary tie threads I:1 andI3, and the sewing thread 34 in an assembled separable fastener 'usingthe tape ofl the invention are shown clearly in Figure '1. Secondary tiethreads i8 and primary tie threads I3 engage the inner surface of therearward segment of each loop of coil and hold theportion of eachmarginal warp threads 24 and. I5, and 23 and i4,respectively, tightlylongitudinally along the outer surface of the coil. The portions of themarginal sections of the tape lying between the inner edges thereof andthe points of securing of the secondary tie threads I1 and I8v theretothus extend for a substantial distance aroundthe outside of the coilfrom the pointof sewing 34 ofthe sections of the tape and thus form acontinuous track or bead along which a slider may move for separablyjoining and for separating the stringers. Due to the extra heavy natureof the warp threads I4, 23, I5 and 24, as explained previously, a sturdyand rugged track or bead is provided without at the same time having theportions of the marginal sections which are not bound to the coils soheavy as to be cumbersome or unattractive. 'I

An assembled and partially closed separable coll fastener, employing atape similar to that described and shown in Figure l, is seen in Figure8 wherein the function' of the bead is somewhat more clearly apparent.It is seen from Figure 8 that there is no chance for the protruding edge1 and 21 and 23 of threads 3 3 of the slider 33 to pass betweenadjoining loops of the coll regardless of how sharply the Stringer isbent immediately in front ofthe slider because all the openings betweenthe separate loops through which the protruding edge of the slider mightpass are adequately covered by the fabric bead 40. This is clearlyapparent from an inspection of Figure 9 wherein is, shown a pair ofinter- .locked coils 31 and 33. each assembled in a tape 33, which isconstructed lr; accordancewith the invention so as to provide a track orbead along which the protruding edge 35 of the slider 3B moves duringjoining and separating ofv the stringers 31 and 33.

The utilization of the tape of the invention in the case of separablefasteners having engaging elements consisting of a row of individuallinks is .illustrated clearly in Figure 10 wherein a pair of such links4I' and.42 are shown in interlocking relationship. Interlocking of thelinks is accomplished by means of hooks 44 and cooperating eyes, notshown, formed in the links. The root of each link is formed as a splitring and is clamped around a cord or runner 43 tomaintain proper spacingand alignment of the links. The row of links clamped on the runner isthen assembled in a tape, having woven marginal sections with primaryand secondary tie threads extending between them as describedheretofore, ina manner entirely analogous to that described forassembling a coil in such a tape. The tape forms a continuous bead 45lying longitudinally along thel rows of links covering the roots of thelinks and providing a'continuous track held securely against the row oflinks for the protruding edges 41 of i spaced relationship, as withsewing threads `21 I'l and and 23 of Figure 2 and sewing threads 48 and49, and and 5i of Figure 11. Any convenient type of stitching may beused in forming such primary or secondary tie threads by sewing, twosuch types being illustrated at 29 and 30 respectively in Figure 2.`When formed by sewing as just described, or otherwise, the primary tiethreads are secured along, and preferably as near as possible to, theinner edges of the marginal sections of the tape so as to hold the edgeof the tape tightly against the engaging elements.

It is not essential that all of the tie threads lie in parallel planes.In some instances, as will be hereinafter noted, it is highly desirablethat some of the tie threads beformed so as to lie at an angle withrespect to the other of the tie threads,

two of such angular primary tie threads 3l and 32 being illustratedclearly in Figure 4. Other ways of forming secondary tie threads andother positions which they may occupy will be apparent to those familiarwith the art and the present invention is not limited in these respects.

In the tape of the invention, it is apparent that the length of the tiethreads extending between the marginal sections ofthe tape will dependlargely upon the dimensions of the coil or row of links to be assembledtherein. The primary and secondary tie threads should, when the stringeris assembled, be under tension and hold the bead or track tightlyagainst'the row of engaging elements.

' Although the primary and secondary tie threads are frequently of suchlength that the trackforming portions of the marginal sections aresubstantially parallel when spread apart so as to tension the tiethreads, one modification of the invention contemplates secondary tiethreads longer than the primary tie threads. When a row of engagingelements is assembled in such a tape, it is possible to sew the twomarginal sections longitudinally adjacent the row of elements so as tocatch the ends of the long secondary tie threads in the seam. This addsconsiderably to the ability of the finished fastener to withstand astrong lateral-strain. The same effect is obtained in a coil.stringerwhen the cross section of the iilament is small with respect to thetotal width of the coil. In this case the secondary tie threads, whichmust be long enough to permit the coil to pass between the marginalsections of the tape at the points of attachment of the secondary tiethreads thereto, are sufllciently long to pass around the filament andbe caught in a seam longitudinal of the tape and adjacent the coil. Suchan assembly of a coil in a tape having secondary tie threads longer thanthe primary tie threads is illustrated in Figure 12 wherein thesecondary tie threads 52 are longer than the primary tie threads I3 andare caught in the seam formed by sewing with the thread 34.

I claim:

1. A tape for a separable fastener which includes: two longitudinalmarginal sections whose4 inner edges are in spaced relationship; primarytie threads extending transversely between the marginal sections, atleast one end of each primary tie thread being secured along the inneredge of' a marginal section; and secondary tie threads extendingtransversely between the marginal sections and secured thereto at pointssubstantially removed from the inner edges of the sections.

2. A tape for a separable fastener which includes: two longitudinalmarginal sections of woven fabric whose inner edges are in spacedrelationship; primary tie threads extending transversely between themarginal sections, at least one endof each primary tie thread beingsecured along the inner edge of a marginal section'; and secondary tiethreads extending transversely between the marginal sections and securedthereto at points substantially removed from the inner edges of thesections, at least a portion of each marginal section lying between thepoints of securing thereto of the; primary tie threads and of thesecondary tie threads being thicker than the rest of the section.

3. A tape as claimed in claim 1 wherein at least some of the secondarytie threads are heavier i than the primary tie threads.

4. A tape as claimed in claim 1 wherein 'the points of securing of atleast some of the tie threads to one marginal section are removed fromthe inner edge of the section by a distance greater 8 than the distanceby which the points of securing of the same tie threads to the othermarginal section are removed from the inner edge of the said marginalsection.

' 5. A tape for a separable fastener which includes: two longitudinalmarginal sections woven of warp and woof threads and having their inneredges in spaced relationship; primary tie threads extending transverselyat regular intervals between and secured to the inner edges of themarginal sections; and secondary tie threads extending at regularintervals transversely between the marginal sections and secured theretoat points substantially removed from the inner edges of the marginalsections.

6. A tape as claimed in claim 5 wherein the secondary tie threads areatleast heavier than the primary tie threads.

7. A tape as claimed in claim 5 wherein the secondary tie threads arelonger than the primary tie threads.

8. A tape for a separable fastener which in-l cludes: two longitudinalmarginal sections woven of warp and woof threads and having their inneredges in spaced relationship; primarytie threads extending transverselyat regular intervals between and secured to the inner edges of themarginal sections; and secondary tie threads extending at regularintervals transversely between the marginal sections and secured theretoat points substantially removed from the inner edges of the marginalsections, the warp threads of the portion of each marginal section lyingbetween the points of securing of the primary tie threads and of thelsupplementary tie threads to the section being at least heavier than theremaining warp threads in the section.

9. A tape for a separable fastener which includes: two longitudinalmarginal sections woven of warp and Woof threads, the warp threadsforming the inner edges of the sections being in spaced relationship;woof threads common to both marginal sections and forming primary tiethreads extending between the inner edges of the marginal sections; andwarp threads substantially removed from the inner edges of the marginalsections woven for a distance longitudinally first in one section andthen for a distance longitudinally in the other section and formingsecondary tie threads extending between the marginal sections.

NICHOLAS A. WAHL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED sfrATEs PA'IENTS Name Date Hendley June 6, 1944Number

